Fight Hunger and Reduce Food Waste on the 4th of July

The Fourth of July is less than a week away, and Americans all across the country are gearing up for backyard barbecues with family and friends. But did you ever stop to think about those who can’t afford to have a big cookout? Or how about the amount of food that inevitably gets wasted at our Independence Day celebrations? With 42 million Americans living with food insecurity during the summer, one of the toughest times to be food insecure, this holiday can be an opportunity to help. Here are some tips to turn your Fourth of July party into a successful contribution to your community.

Have it double as a food drive: As mentioned, summer is a particularly difficult time for food banks and those in need of food. Ask guests to bring non-perishable food items to your party and have a box out ready to collect donations. At the conclusion of the event, bring the box of donated food to your local food bank.

Make it a contest: Having a friendly competition is a great way to encourage people to bring food donations. Provide a little prize for the winner!

Encourage guests to bring take-home containers: It is estimated that 150 million hot dogs are consumed on the Fourth of July. What about everything that doesn’t get eaten? Tell guests to bring take-home containers to bring food home as leftovers. This eliminates food waste, and who doesn’t love having a day off from deciding what to make for dinner?

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About Move For Hunger

More than 41 million Americans, including 1 in 6 children, struggle with food insecurity each day. Hunger exists in every state, county, and congressional district in the United States.

Move For Hunger has collected nearly 9 million pounds of food thanks, in large part, to ordinary people like you who recognized the urgency of the problem and decided to take action. We need your support to continue providing meals for our neighbors in need.